What would a successful Detroit Pistons rebuild look like?

Get value from the center position

Ever since Drummond signed his extension in 2016, some have argued that he’s been overpaid. Out of all the seven teams with the best records currently, Bucks, Lakers, Celtics, Heat, Nuggets, Rockets, and Clippers, only the Nuggets with Nikola Jokic have a Center anywhere near making what Drummond makes right now and I’m personally skeptical of the Nuggets realistic chances to do anything against the Lakers, Clippers, or Rockets.

Now that the Pistons are likely going to unload Drummond’s contract or let him walk in free agency, this team needs to make significant investments in point guard and the wing spots. The way they’ll be able to do this is by not overspending on Drummond’s replacement. Christian Wood has played at times like a capable replacement and the Pistons got him off the scrap heap before the season.

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Although he doesn’t defend the rim as well as Drummond, his true shooting percentage of 65.7 percent is about four percentage points better than the second best shooter on the team (Tony Snell) and the Pistons have been 8.2 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court as opposed to off the court. Not only that, but Wood also leads the Pistons in win shares per 48 minutes (.168), with only Drummond nearby at .128.

Finding more capable defenders at the position won’t be easy, but the position is now more versitile offensively that it ever has been. Brook Lopez, who’s reinvented his game to be able to shoot outside, makes half the salary that Drummond makes right now. Kelly Olynyk, who’s having a good season for Miami, makes only $12 million this season.

There a lot of solid to mid-level centers that don’t rebound as proficiently as Drummond does, and to be fair nobody rebounds like Drummond does, but are contributors to good teams in other ways that could allow Detroit to spend more on other positions in the future.